Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. Apply discipline-based theoretical knowledge and tools learned in coursework to a research project that is tied to the internship experience.
2. Exercise critical thinking and judgement in the context of developing advanced professional knowledge.
3. Demonstrate the ability to work under professional supervision, gain useful experience of a professional context and how organisations operate, and develop enhanced awareness of how economic and societal trends affect work opportunities.
4. Demonstrate interpersonal and communication behaviours, attributes and skills that enable negotiation and collaboration with others, as well as enhanced self-awareness to identify personal characteristics and how these can support or hinder work behaviours.
5. Clarify personal and professional goals consistent with personal characteristics and interests, and understand how skills can be transferable, including an enhanced ability to demonstrate employability skills to others.

Indicative Assessment

1. Statement of Expectations (1500 words). Before starting their internship students will submit a Statement of Expectations that outlines what knowledge, skills and experience they intend to gain from the internship. The Statement is a type of ‘learning plan’ that should cover three areas: Expectations about the internship role; Expectations about personal and professional development; and Expectations about knowledge and skills application. The Statement will be used to help guide learning during the internship and will be used as a basis for reflecting on achievements and professional development as part of the Reflective Journal (15) [LO 3,4,5]
2. Reflective Journal (2500 words). After completing their internship students will submit a Reflective Journal. The Journal is a critical component of ‘experiential learning’. It provides a structured opportunity to reflect on how concrete experiences in the internship have helped both to enhance understanding of academic concepts and to develop a better conception of your own personal work characteristics and work preferences. The Journal will comprise internship journal entries (five journal entries recording key experiences and observations on concept application) and reflections on expectations (analytical observations on achievements and professional development expectations set out in the Statement of Expectations). (25) [LO 1,3,4,5]
3. Research Report (6000 words). After completing their internship students will submit a Research Report that addresses a policy or governance question on a topic connected to the internship. The Report is a discrete research output for assessment against academic standards. While the Report can be informed by work undertaken during the internship it cannot be a document drafted as part of internship work requirements. The Report is a time-constrained policy or governance research project based on analysis of existing data that will provide experience in designing and conducting rigorous research. (60) [LO 1,2,3]

The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.

Workload

Inherent Requirements

Not applicable

Requisite and Incompatibility

You will need to contact the Crawford School of Public Policy to request a permission code to enrol in this course.

Prescribed Texts

The prescribed text is: O’Leary, Z. and Hunt, J. 2016. Workplace Research: Conducting small-scale research in organizations. Sage. London. Course materials will be provided on Wattle.

Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links